Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Elimination

Sunday evening saw the Suns eliminated from the 2024 playoff race, they lost their game 122-116. The Wolves managed to sweep them 4-0 which is impressive for several reasons. We return briefly to June 24, 2023, and the trade…you know the one. The Suns acquired veteran Bradley Beal from the Wizards, he would aid them in winning an NBA Championship with his shooting prowess. This from last October Devin Booker, “I don’t know how teams are gonna guard us.” His comment was followed up with these words by teammate Kevin Durant who said; “You can’t guard all of us at once.” Adding Beal to the roster in a trade certainly provided the Suns a great deal of firepower and belief in the team’s future.

Technically speaking both Booker and Durant were correct, the Suns roster contained quite a number of outstanding shooters. They had Kevin Durant at the power forward, Booker at the point and Beal at shooting guard. In addition there was Eric Gordon and Grayson Allen in the mix, the Suns would finish the regular season with a 49-33 record good enough to finish second in the Pacific Division. Once the playoffs began and they were matched against the Wolves we discover there may have been a missing piece…a defensive commitment. There may have been other issues I overlooked but until someone tells me different that’s my belief. As an example the Bucks are without Giannis and maybe Dame Time, if they lose their series it is understandable, they are missing valuable contributors, I cannot make a similar statement regarding the Suns loss.

It was major league to them

I’ve mentioned this in the past, in 1947 up through 1960 the NBA claimed it was a major league although if we checked out the location of its franchises they reflected a minor league. The NBA always believed it was major league however unlike the NFL or baseball its teams played in smaller cities. This is no criticism of the towns it’s just a clear fact the NBA began operations in smaller towns and cities. How about us taking a check of just a few of these towns that once had NBA teams?

The first town on our list is a little curious, Sheboygan is located only 60 miles or so from the City of Milwaukee, even back then surly Milwaukee certainly had a greater number of citizens, perhaps it was more to the story why Sheboygan over the larger city. The team then known by a no longer in use derogatory term of native Americans played in three leagues, founded in 1933 the team folded in 1951 as an NBA franchise. Check this out in 2022 Sheboygan had a population of 49,773, in the 30’s and 40’s the population would have been considerably smaller. This team presently resides in Sacramento, there founding was in Rochester (NY) and in 1923 and at the time they were nicknamed the Seagrams. The team eventually moved to the NBL in 1945 and at the time of the merger in 1948 they became a member of the NBA.

Next up a brief profile of the team nicknamed the Tri-Cities Blackhawks. Imagine this, an NBA team representing three towns which were Moline and Rock Island Illinois and Davenport Iowa. Finally we close with the Anderson Packers, the city is located northwest of Indianapolis. The team founded in 1946 went out of business in 1951. Only a student of basketball history is aware of this information. Imagine this picture, little Johnny living in Moline Illinois follows the NBA passionately. He’s got no idea his city was once home to the NBA.

What I meant was….

This is for those of you who might still have questions why the Caitlan Clark-Pearl Moore explanation was published on Sunday. Once again it was not an attempt on my part to belittle the outstanding season of Caitlan Clark while at Iowa. The intent was to inform all reading the story Clark holds the NCAA record and not the all-time highest point total for women. In addition it was to shine a light toward Pearl Moore who by all accounts had largely been ignored during the magnificent scoring run of Clark.

The all-time record had been established much earlier and 99% of the basketball world (including me) unaware of the history. Similar to you I thought basketball records began and ended with the NCAA exclusively which is only partially correct. March 16 Moore observed her 67 birthday, in addition it also should be noteworthy she was enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame in the 2021 class. If there is any finger pointing it should be aimed at the media, they are solely responsible for the wave of Clark frenzy that swept the nation. With all the information at hand no media member bothered to research this issue.

Arrogance by some 

Don’t slay the messenger Kansas fans, just check it out for yourself. In the past I’ve seen basketball players leave a school during the transfer portal or simply change their mind. In the majority of instances I read a few letters of disappointment but that’s as far as it went, there was no requirement on the writers part to attack someone for changing their mind. It appears many of those who follow Kansas basketball have a different mindset, allow me to cite a recent example. Kansas commit and 4-star prospect number 30 in the nation Labaron Philon requested a release from the school. To provide you a brief look at his background this 6-4 177-pound point guard attends Link Academy in Branson Missouri although he’s from Mobile Alabama.

Following my usual habit of reading a story, I read letters to assess others view of the subject. Most of the Kansas faithful were none too pleased with the decision Philon made. "Good, another high school kid who cannot make a decision or commitment. Would have not played much and transferred because he wouldn't be willing to put work in. I look forward to his 4 schools over next 4 years." How about this one; "Wants a degree without taking the course." It was almost unbelievable, the vast majority of the letter writers disparaging Philon for changing his mind. Why is it necessary to hate on this young man because he decided Kansas was not a good fit? Don't believe me, that's okay you can read many of these letters for yourself if you care. Prior to publication Philon made his decision known, he will return home and play for the University of  Alabama. 

3-Peat

In this part of the nation fans are discussing a 3-peat for the NFL Chiefs, there's even been talk of a football dynasty. I am extremely cautious anytime someone desires to hold these types of conversations. There are far too many variables possible which might prevent a team from winning it all. In Storrs we are hearing and reading similar comments regarding the UConn Huskies, if anyone can accomplish this feat Dan Hurley would be the man. I've long believed he's one of the best college basketball coaches there is but back to the question. 

It appears UConn might lose its starting 5 so what occurs then regarding a 3-peat? It might begin with adding Liam McNeeley a 5-star prospect in the Class of 2024. the 6-foot 7 185 pound wing played at Montverde Academy in Florida, that's proof he's played basketball at a high skill level. The roster is not gutted completely, there are returnees and in addition there's the transfer portal. Allow me to close with this thought, I feel comfortable stating Hurley will bet the most from his roster no matter who's there. Those who hate the coach should grow accustomed to hearing his name anytime we are discussing Big Time college basketball.  

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Basketball from a fan’s perspective

I’m still Purple & Gold

Did I share this earlier, I’m not sure but the bulk of this account is fresh. Local radio guy almost caused me to crash my car one day. He informs his co-host and the listening audience "I'm a Laker fan." He then begins to name several of the Showtime Lakers. My first thought, you ain't no fan you are a fan of an era. Loyal fans root for their team during good and tough times. The Lakers managed to avoid elimination Saturday evening, they beat the Nuggets 119-108 thus avoiding a Nugget sweep that would have been the second season in a row.  

The Lakers now return to Denver for Game 5 this evening, the 11-game losing streak is officially over however that makes for another question. I wonder if I am failing to give the Nuggets enough credit for their on court success after all they are the defending NBA Champions. Saturday evening with their backs against the wall the Lakers emerged from the locker room determined to not close this out at Crypto.com arena, they led in this game wire to wire. Neither D’Lo nor Austin Reaves were high scorers but their presence was very much noticed on Saturday. The two backcourt mates matched one another in scoring 21 points apiece, Reaves dished out 6 assists to 4 for D’Lo. AD contributed 25 points and 23 rebounds while battling the Joker for most of the evening. LeBron scored 30 points on 61.9% shooting from the floor in 39 minutes of action on the floor.

All in all it was a team effort by the Lakers which led the way to victory, whatever occurs tonight I’m still Purple & Gold. This Laker team is still mine, I will continue to enjoy the victories and accept the sadness of losses. After all that’s what you do with a team if you are a loyal fan, if you claim fandom during good times you need to turn in your Laker Nation card. Hey radio guy, I’m a loyal fan whatever the outcome. The Showtime era was great but that’s in the past, what about now?

He was the glue

The most recent Sixer NBA Championship occurred in 1983, if asked to name members of that team most will name rebounding machine Moses Malone while Doctor J. would be on the lips of others. Some could mention shot maker Andrew Toney or point guard Mo Cheeks. A much lesser number will cite Bobby Jones and there is a reason. Jones’ game was not about scoring his NBA lifetime saw him score at a modest 12.1 points a game it was the other thing. When called upon Jones could score the ball but that was not his primary role…he was the defender.

The slim (6-9 210 pound) power forward was a lockdown defender, it was Jones who always took on the role of attempting to shut down his opposite number. Jones had emerged a star in the ABA and was a member of the Nuggets, he might have remained with them in the NBA but there was a question. Jones had a series of health issues generally unknown to most of the public. There was an epilepsy diagnosis and he was asthmatic, in addition there was a heart issue these concerns worried Nuggets management. They decided to trade Jones for George McGinnis, McGinnis played less than two years while Jones spent 8 seasons in a Sixer jersey. Of course one of those seasons resulted in the 1983 championship in which Jones played a vital role.

After the 1986 season Jones decided to retire but left quite a legacy behind him. Just a few of the NBA honors include four times NBA All Star, 8 times NBA Defensive First Team, NBA Defensive Second Team, NBA Sixth Man of the Year 1983. There were many more honors Jones earned while playing in the ABA. In 2019 he would be enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. It should be of note a medication routine allowed him to play at an exceptional level in the NBA, in addition at the age of 72 he remains regularly active.

The Basketball Rules

They are simple and easily explained, they are my rules. If you have a separate set that varies from mine that’s okay, I’ve discovered these work best for me. You can adapt them or simply ignore, the choice is yours.

1. Never match players from different eras against one another.

2. A nickname must be awarded, a player cannot bestow a handle on himself.

3. Comparing draft choices ensure the player you use as the example is well known.

4. Become acquainted with basketball abbreviations or phrases. 

5. Research high school prospect sites periodically, they are a valuable source.

6. NBA mock draft sites are a reference tool only, an analyst opinion.

7. Don’t attempt to invoke humor when discussing a serious event or person. 

 

Basketball from a fan’s perspective

The Basketball Rules

Depending on where you live in the world you might not be familiar with “The Gibbs Rules.” Mark Harmon played special agent Jethro Gibbs for years on the CBS television program NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service). The character Gibbs has a set of rules he lives by and they are numbered. I have rules as well, Rule Number 1., Never compare basketball players from different era’s to one another. There is no effective method (except your argument) to compare Michael Jordan against LeBron James. In the near future additional basketball rules will be detailed for you, Gibbs has an extended list of rules to follow. My list is small by comparison, currently its under 10 and will certainly not exceed that number.    

“Whoa, I don’t pay no defense”

In the 1996 movie Space Jam Bill Murray enters the huddle and begins to dictate the offense. After providing the starters the offensive scheme he’s told, “We are on defense.” Murray’s response became an instant classic, “Whoa I don’t play defense, alright you’re gonna listen to Mike on this one.” For several years many have commended the basketball skill of the Mavs Luka Doncic, despite this fact the knock on his play has persisted he doesn’t play defense. From my seat allow me to say Doncic is not a great defender but don’t kid yourself a total game is played by Luka the Don.

Luka was the leader as his Mavs team took a two games to one lead over the Clippers 101-90. He didn’t shoot well however his 22 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists aided the effort, his teammates Kyrie and especially reserve Dereck Lively help tremendously in the victory. As for the Clippers it was an all-out effort by James Harden leading the way with 21 points. This is certainly no intent to downplay the effort of Ivica Zubac but understand this, his scoring number of 19 points exceeded Kawhi Leonard and Paul George’s (16). Truth is the Clippers are in a far better position at this time over their Crypto.com neighbors, understand this. Neither team is championship quality material this season, there might be a question will they ever be?

I’m sorry if this upsets some of you…that is not the intent

My purpose is that of the messenger, there is no intent on my part to doubt Caitlan Clark. Clark is a very talented player I hope she has much success in the WNBA over the next few seasons. The news I bring is simple, Clark is not the all-time women’s scoring champion. The honor belongs to Pearl Moore who played at Francis Marion College in Florence South Carolina, by now why the question regarding the all-time women’s scoring champion…it was the time period. Moore scored 4,061 points from 1975-79 while enrolled at Francis Marion.

The NCAA did not begin to recognize women’s sport until 1983, from 1971 to 1983 the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women or AIAW was responsible for governance of women’s sports. Apparently when the NCAA began implementing programs records were not transferred to the NCAA. The 3,685 points scored by Clark is far below the number established by Moore in 1979, in essence Clark holds the NCAA record not the all-time number. We are now left with a record similar to the 1961 home run record. Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth’s record with his 61-home run, later the commissioner tagged the Maris record with an asterisk. Why, in 1927 baseball played a 154-game schedule which became 162 by the time the record was “broken.”

How did that happen

This is a look back at a story once provided to readers much earlier. If you check the history of team names you will discover 99% of them reference an animal. We also have professional sports teams in Texas, Arizona, Minnesota and (North) Carolina taking on the name of the state. An example might be sports teams in baseball Minnesota Twins and in the NBA the Minnesota Wolves. Nowhere in professional sport do we have a team named after an area within a city. The Nets hold a unique existence being named after the borough they reside in rather than New York City.

The Nets have played in New York City in the past however the history of the team is mostly connected to the New Jersey side. Barclays Center opened in 2012, at that point the team moved to the borough of Brooklyn thus becoming the Brooklyn Nets. In Los Angeles we have the Lakers and Clippers having the city name in front, in New York City the Knicks have solo ownership of New York. As for the name rather than city it’s a connection or throwback to Dodger baseball, the Brooklyn Dodgers called the borough home from 1913 until the franchise located to Los Angeles in 1957. There you have the brief history how a basketball team took on an area name rather than a city or state name.

Basketball from a fan’s perspective

This is no rivalry

The Lakers find themselves losers once again, Game three saw this number Nuggets 112 Lakers 105. Some could conclude “They can’t beat their rivals,” that is not the case here. This quote is attributed to former boxing champion Mike Tyson, he once said “Everyone has a game plan until they are smacked in the mouth.” The Lakers have now lost 11 games in a row 7 of them of the playoff variety. You cannot have a rivalry when you never beat the other guy. This series is over, the Lakers could win the next game but still find themselves in a gigantic hold. One of the keys that continues to haunt me is the inability of the Lakers to sustain a lead, perhaps a few reading this are aware of this fact.

The Lakers have a lead at the half in all three games yet find themselves on the road to elimination. Despite having future Hall of Fame athlete LeBron James, despite having the talented Anthony Davis the Lakers once again face removal from the playoff race. Maybe the problem is LeBron, despite the talent he’s exhibited throughout his NBA career, he could be a difficult teammate. We read something along those lines regarding Kobe Bryant, he was not good if a player didn’t have a good work ethic. As I’ve said over and over again Darvin Ham doesn’t shoot the ball nor rebound it. He doesn’t defend the paint or contest the 3-point line. Ham doesn’t perform any of those tasks however it is his responsibility as a head coach to lay out a game plan and make adjustments to it. It’s not totally fair but I look at the Chiefs Andy Reid, the game plan is laid out. If the Chiefs or behind or ineffective he always manages to implement adjustments. Back to the Lakers, maybe Ham is doing just that…he’s changing stuff around and the Lakers are simply not adapting. Fool that I am, there is a refusal on my part to believe the Nuggets are 11 games in a row better than the Lakers. The Nuggets are simply better at this period of time…certainly not all-time.

If that is truly the situation a case could be made for a change at the first chair. If you are now asking who replaces Ham, I haven’t a clue its someone with a clear ability to lead an NBA team. A coach with the cerebral ability of Phil Jackson, the strategic aptitude of Mike Malone and leadership exhibited by Erick Spoelstra. The coach I’m building doesn’t exist, there is no one I believe capable of combining all the coaching skills I just cited. At best that good coach might have elements in all areas plus qualities unmentioned (or unknown by me). In closing I continue to remain a member of Laker Nation, although a rather disappointed member of the group.

How to be a fan

If you believed I would provide you a step-by-step instruction on how to be a fan you can stop reading at this point. I listen to the local drive time guy on occasion but his take is often quite different from mine. Imagine my shock recently when he said, “I’m a Laker fan.” He then goes on to say, “The Showtime Lakers, Magic, Kareem and others.” My first thought, you call yourself a Laker fan…those guys retired from play a number of years ago. The measurement of an ardent fan is someone who is not just a fan while the team is a winner.

The Lakers suffered several losing seasons before the 2020 championship, this guy wasn’t a fan of that team. How about the Chiefs and Royals, the NFL Chiefs were terrible between 1995 and 2003 the team had two winning seasons. As for the Royals their won-loss record was even worse, after winning it all in 1985 it was 2015 before they won again. In between those years can I say for the most part it was difficult being a fan yet many remained. Hey radio guy, it appears you adopt a team based on whether they are winning or losing. As I often say it’s easy to be a fan of a winning program, how are you with the team during down times?

Bits n Pieces 

The entire world is growing at a rapid pace, that sure appears to be the case. Research continues to uncover potential Big Man talent, in this instance it’s a youthful member. Guess what, he’s just as tall as Victor Wembanyama, from his photo it appears he’s the same height. Second to that Jongkuh Machi might be even skinnier than Wemby. I also must add he’s only 16 years old and certainly has time to gain additional poundage which will be a needed asset. Originally from South Sudan Machi plays for the Perth Wildcats in Australia. The future is unknown at this time due to the various routes he could take, store his name for future reference.

I have no issues with social media unless it paints an inaccurate portrait of an issue. Allow me to share two separate story’s I read and heard over the past few weeks. In one instance an individual produced a podcast, the rejection of the Jackson County stadium vote was his focus, this paraphrases what he said. “The Chiefs will move to Dallas their original home, Clark Hunt has approached Dallas sources.” Two errors, an owner such as Hunt can request a change if he so desires however the NFL must be contacted first. Nowhere in the report did this individual claim the NFL offices had been contacted regarding a move. The second account involved Victor Wembanyama and his dating habits. The young Frenchman was reported to have made derogatory remarks about American women…my research indicates the story had no validity.

It’s always been stated we must allow a freshman athlete time to make the adjustment to Division I basketball. From what I’ve read coaches who scouted him indicate Mizzou has snagged a good one in Rivals 4-star prospect Kwasi Annor Boateng although he prefers to be called Annor. Boateng is a 6-foot 5 205-pound shooting guard who attends Central High School, from what I read don’t be shocked to see Boateng in Mizzou’s starting lineup day one. Boateng was born and grew up in Little Rock Arkansas, his parents are originally from Ghana.

Basketball from a fan’s perspective

I offer this proof

This is written ahead of the Thursday night match between the Nuggets and the Lakers. The Lakers find themselves 0-2 in the series, the Lakers unable to beat this team being losers in 10 consecutive games including playoffs. This from Anthony Davis, “We’ve also had stretches where we don’t know what we’re doing on both ends of the floor. And those are the ones that cost us.” Almost immediately after hearing that statemen Darvin Ham comes forward and contradicts his player.

We are captive to the media, we have no idea what occurs in practice, gametime, timeouts and more. This proves one fact to me, the players and the coach are not on the same page offensively and defensively. The Lakers cannot continue to change coaches every 3-4 years but it appears in this instance there is a disconnect somewhere. I’m in no position to terminate anybody but I believe short of winning an NBA championship Ham is gone. The coach is not completely at fault but I hesitate to focus on the front office, on the surface it appears they attempted to secure starting and reserve talent for Ham.   

Portsmouth Invitational Tournament

Some reading this are likely unfamiliar with this tournament. Every season a select number of basketball players are invited to Portsmouth Virginia, the purpose is to assess their ability to play in the NBA. My definition, guys who might fly beneath the radar, most play at major schools but likely to have received limited exposure. The NBA invited 64 players to the tournament and now that its complete we’ll check out a few names. Sean East II stands out for me having watched him play the past two seasons at Mizzou. Also attending was Jamarion Sharp at Ole Miss another familiar name, he was being recruited by Mizzou at a point. TJ Bickerstaff, his grandfather Bernie has held a number of jobs at various NBA stops.

This represents just a few familiar names to me, despite that fact you might have a question. Does this tournament provide any value to NBA teams? Although there are probably numerous instances one stands out for me that is DeMarre Carroll. He retired in 2020 having played for several NBA teams but his story is this. Carroll was not on a single teams radar prior to the 2009 draft, his outstanding play at Portsmouth that year was impressive to the Grizzlies who made him a late first round pick in the 2009 draft. Despite play as a reserve and occasional starter Carroll managed to carve out a long NBA career thanks in part to the Portsmouth tourney.

The best backcourt

I am quite sure pushback will occur with this account…I’m ready for it. Recently I read an article regarding two diametrically opposite guards coming together. This combo might be the best NBA backcourt, past and present day. These two were drafted in the same year although a trade would later place the two of them together. The names are Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier and Earl ‘The Pearl’ Monroe, Frazier was made the 5th pick in the 1st round of the 1967 NBA draft, Monroe the 2nd pick in the first round of that draft. Frazier was chosen by the Knicks, as for Monroe it would be the Baltimore Bullets. These two would lead the Knicks to their last NBA championship in 1973 but what occurred prior to the championship? Frazier came into the NBA from Southern Illinois University which had just moved from Division II to Division I.

For Monroe it was HBCU Winston-Salem a Division II institution. Back them it was more important if you could play rather than where the play occurred. Although the two battled one another on the basketball court how did the mold of them playing in the backcourt begin? According to the record Monroe was displeased with the Bullets, through his agent he requested a trade to the Lakers, Bulls or Philadelphia his hometown. Monroe would find himself traded to the Knicks where this combo was referred to as “The Rolls-Royce” backcourt. The belief initially the ball-dominate Monroe would be unwilling to relinquish control of the basketball but that would not be the case. He and Frazier managed to shape their game to suit one another. How do we know it worked, well the proof might be the fact both are in the Naismith Hall of Fame.

“The next Victor Wembanyama”

I almost laughed out loud, the above is a portion of The Daily Mail online.com headline. The primary reason it’s so interesting is we remember back to last spring. Do you recall in the spring of 2023 most mock draft sites projected Wemby at the top? A few of us had the opportunity to see him in action at the time his Metropolitans92 team journeyed to Las Vegas. Wemby was in action in two games versus G-League Team Elite. A legion of NBA fans and former players claimed the 19-year-old was “overhyped” by much of the media. We know how his season turned out, 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year. Wemby might win or at least finish second in voting for Defensive Player of the Year. That was then, this is now and exactly who is the next Victor Wembanyama?

As the headline indicates he’s also from France, his name is Zaccharie Risacher and just like his fellow countryman was at draft time last year Risacher is also only 19-years of age. As for his stats Risacher stands 6 foot 10 and a slim 200 pounds. If we look at the numbers he posted they are certainly not eye-popping however Euroleague basketball is so much different from the NBA it’s a little difficult to make a judgment in that area. As for the mocks, it’s nbadraft.net placing him at the top, tankathon.com places him at number two on their site. The last one to check, nbadraftroom.com has Risacher as their number 7 choice. As you can see whatever position it turns out to be Risacher will certainly hear commissioner Silver say “With the _____pick in the 2024 NBA Draft the ________ select Zaccharie Risacher from Lyon France. He’s got some mighty big shoes to fill if he equals what was witnessed in Wemby’s first NBA season.

Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Can they do that

The answer to the headline is clearly yes, what am I referring too? Among the morning headline story’s on the Wednesday edition of the Today Show was one titled “Mr. Bigshot.” It was referencing the critical 3-point basket sunk by Luka Doncic late in their game versus the Clippers. The basket of course turned out to be the game winner but what about the headline? I thought the term “Mr. Bigshot” belonged exclusively to former Piston guard and current Blazer coach Chauncey Billups. Oh well, I guess if Billups didn’t do anything legally with the phrase anyone can use it.

Anthony Davis with a pronounced unibrow 11 years ago trademarked the phrases “Fear The Brow” and “Raise The Brow.” How about the term 3-peat, this from the archives of basketball. From Wikipedia, “In 1989, Riles & Co. (Pat Riley) successfully registered the trademark under U.S. Registration Number 1552980. The Lakers did not win a third consecutive NBA championship in 1989, but the Chicago Bulls did in 1993, and Riles & Co. collected royalties from sports apparel makers who licensed the phrase for us on merchandise commemorating that accomplishment.” As you can see Billups certainly missed an opportunity to gain additional income for use of a term or phrase.

This is interesting

The transfer portal has proven beneficial to Mizzou if we check the most recent 247Sports rating. Earlier I’d indicated the .com site listed Mizzou number 13 in the nation, they have now moved up to number 6. A brief check for the basis of the move up, the addition of Iowa’s Tony Perkins, Northern Kentucky Marques Warrick plus UT Martin’s Jacob Crews. 6-foot 9 Mark Mitchell arriving from Duke is the latest athlete headed to Columbia in the fall. Although there is lack of depth at two positions the roster appears complete although there could be subtractions over the next couple of weeks.

What I found most interesting the Duke fan website seemed confused regarding Mitchell’s departure. They questioned why Mitchell would leave Duke for an 8 win 24 loss Mizzou team. I have become a Gates disciple, it’s been my belief that what I witnessed this past season was an anomaly. Most of Mizzou Nation were ready to run the coach out of town despite the fact his prior team had registered a 24-9 won-loss record. My issue with some in Mizzou Nation deciding to “fire” Gates after but one season, I could be wrong but its expected the record will improve. Will Mizzou win the SEC, I’m not willing to go there however the basketball will be much improved over this past season.

No revisionist history

Recently I was made aware the Kansas City version of the Kings attempted to draft Magic Johnson after his Michigan State freshman year. This account follows on the heels of the teams failure to acquire Moses Malone in the ABA/NBA dispersal draft. Two players who might have been the driving force in producing a consistent winning NBA team in Kansas City. Based on this I decided to check the number one picks the Kings made from 1973-1984 the period this city was their home base. In 1974 the Kings drafted University of Colorado forward Scott Wedman, although Wedman failed to finish his career in Kansas City his role with the Kings and later Celtics was outstanding. 1977 saw the Kings draft Otis Birdsong from the University of Houston another good decision.

The following year witnessed the team drafting Phil Ford from North Carolina, of all the choices the Kings made during their tenure in Kansas City he was the best. Ford was the 1979 NBA Rookie of the Year he was that good. A devastating eye injury caused his career to flounder and he ended his time playing for New Jersey, Milwaukee and Houston. Ford was never able to recover his Rookie of the Year form, that about sums it up, the Kings departed for Sacramento after the 1985 season. The players drafted after Ford and the team’s leaving the city were only average, not terrible but certainly nowhere close to his level of play. This was a period prior to much of what we see as free agency frenzy, the draft (or trade) was the only method to acquire talent, the Kings front office in my opinion was below par in acquiring talent. At this point in time I question if there were financial considerations or something else at work.

Some hate it, others love it 

The transfer portal…this change, is it good, is it bad or perhaps its someplace in between? One of the negatives at least in the eyes of some…no limit on transfers. “The NCAA will no longer regulate the amount of times that athletes can transfer schools. The only requirement is the athlete be academically proficient to begin class at the new institution.” This is the issue that upsets many who follow the college game, player A. uses the portal to join school A. After a semester player A. decides this is not a good fit for him and transfers to school B. and this easy peasey transfer method upsets a number of fans.

Now for the positive, most coaches have longed for that freshman who will arrive on campus and turn the basketball program around. That hope is sometimes unrealized, there is a large chasm between even the best high school basketball program and Division I basketball. The portal player has been through the “wars” of college basketball, he must adjust to new teammates and maybe the conference but he is no novice. Mizzou’s Coach Dennis Gates used the portal to full effect in the 2022-23 season, arriving from a spring hire and a depleted roster the coach was able to strike the motherlode and the result was an NCAA Tournament appearance after Mizzou teams hadn’t sniffed the tournament. Like it or not the portal is in full effect and will be for the next several years.

Who needs to win it all

Probably all the playoff teams, on a serious note there can be only one NBA champion crowned in June. Let’s check out a few teams on the clock to win it all, the Nuggets are under no pressure at all. Seriously they won it all last season, if they lose it will be “They were unable to repeat their effort of last season.” As for a few of the others there are far more serious issues to address. Let’s check out the Clippers first, is this the last hurrah for Donald Sterling team before the move to the Intuit Dome? Paul George is solid however he needs assistance, that falls to Kawhi Leonard who remains a talent but has a history of injury. If they don’t do it on this run does it ever occur?

Next up the Bucks who certainly have talent but appear to miss the mark, they have been hot and cold all season despite a coaching change to Doc Rivers. Even with questions regarding Dame Time it’s Giannis who remains the key to a successful run. The Wolves have played extraordinary basketball for much of the season maybe the best since Kevin Garnett wore a Wolves jersey. The Thunder are quite talented and quite young, they will face playoff basketball for the first time, can they continue their winning ways right into the playoffs? How about my Lakers, if they fail to win in 2024 this is likely the last time we see LeBron James as an NBA champion. Somehow the Suns roster, although talented it’s my belief they appear to be lacking a deep playoff run. There are other contenders omitted in this brief look at the playoff picture, what do you think? Am I off base in my assessment?

Basketball from a fan’s perspective

How to approach this

As the Lakers head home they remain in the same funk, unable to beat the Nuggets at a time they have a significant lead. Can I say in truth this game was different from the others, not really. They always manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory i.e. they can’t win against these guys. The Lakers held a 20-point lead in the second half and allowed the home team back in the game, they would come up once again on the losing end against the Nuggets, this time it was 101-99. It's difficult to detail the game in its entirety let’s just say there was a disconnect between Laker players and the coaching staff.

I’ve voiced an opinion in the past, I’m wary of coach Darvin Ham and his coaching strategy. As I have attempted to point out on several occasions Ham doesn’t take shots…rebound the basketball or do the other things. The post-game messages uttered by this coach are confusing, I’m referring to the one regarding The Joker. This is it, “It’s like (profanity), I don’t know what to do” describing the Joker. Do I expect a different outcome on Thursday for the Lakers? Yes it could occur, they could halt their losing streak to the Nuggets at 10. I’m not sure what else to say regarding the Lakers and the kryptonite Nuggets.

A level floor…hardly

I came across some content I’d like to share with you. Looking back there were a number of Americans asking why Brittney Griner was playing in Russia. Of course you are aware of the legal issues, she was held for a time by Russian authorities and later released. I’m not going to discuss that part of the story it’s the finance that is in question. Griner and other American players have played on foreign shores for several years supplementing their income. Recently it was pointed out Caitlin Clark will earn $76,000 from the Fever in her rookie year, similar to the NBA year two and year three will see increases but nowhere close to the salary Wemby currently earns.

As an NBA rookie it’s reported Victor Wembanyama’s salary is in the neighborhood of $12,000,000 in his first year in the league. Unlike others the majority of those drafted in the 2024 WNBA draft Clark has NIL money to supplement her reported salary from the Fever, in addition as this is written she will sign a shoe deal. A sizable portion of WNBA salaries might be attributed to the fact most in the league fail to earn income on the level of most NBA players. Will the salaries in the WNBA and NBA ever be on the same level, I cannot in truth answer the question although I have serious doubts. In closing perhaps Clark, Angel Reese and others will become the tidal wave of change regarding WNBA salaries.

Whoa

Bill Self can walk on water or at least that’s the belief of a great number of Jayhawk Nation. I’m here at this point to burst that bubble, the guy can still coach that’s not the issue, it’s the upgrade in competition. The 2024-25 season will see the Big XII become a 16-conference league, surely a name change is forthcoming at some stage. Competing in the conference will be newcomers Arizona (27-9), Arizona State (14-18), Utah (22-15) and Colorado (26-11), their prior won-loss record is in parenthesis.

I’m not stating they will duplicate this effort in the Big XII or whatever it will be called. This past season found newcomer Houston finished first in the regular season conference race, where did Kansas finish, tied for 4th place? No longer are teams simply rolling over and playing dead for Kansas, not even in Allen Fieldhouse. New to the conference BYU marched into the Jayhawks home and beat them 76-68. Cynics will claim “You just hatin’ on Kansas basketball,” that is not the case I am attempting to look at this 16-team conference in the world of reality. For a number of reasons the media in the Kansas City metro fails to see Kansas basketball in any light except winning.

Notice I didn’t say Kansas wouldn’t win. Self and his team will continue to be competitive because no argument from me, Self remains a good coach and Kansas has a national/international influence in attracting talent. Despite this fact there will be no more conference domination as once existed. I believe Kansas won something like 9 or 10 regular season championships in a row, those days are gone. I’m sure many in Jayhawk Nation will refuse to believe me, that’s okay…just wait and see.

The Wemby factor

I cannot remember the exact day and date, it was sometime in late November or early December. One article after another was written by yours truly regarding Victor Wembanyama. For me and maybe several others we became immediately enthralled with the teen youngster from France. I received some good nature kidding, “Can’t you write on another rookie or team?” The explanation was easy for me, the opportunity to see a generational player overwhelmed me. I cannot make the same statement about Kobe Bryant for one reason alone…lack of playing time. 

That Laker team contained so much talent and were so good they didn’t require a 17-year-old fuzzy faced kid in their starting lineup. Having seen LeBron James in action for St. Vincent-St. Mary there was a great deal of hype surrounding him in that first Cavs game his rookie year. ESPN existed at the time but with no television contract such as exists today those rare opportunities we might have seen Kobe in action consisted of highlights. As for TNT forget that the network didn’t exist back then. For LeBron the basketball world was forced to sit up and take notice and the hype machine began to work to affect. As for Wemby television played a role in his evolution plus the period, we saw the youngster in action in Las Vegas prior to the draft. His Metropolitans 92 team was matched against NBA G-League Team Elite. 

With Wemby’s rookie season complete there are two issues that might prevent him being lumped in with conversation of the all-time greats. A serious injury and his attitude toward the game, one of those elements he can control the other is a different matter. Every issue of Off the Dribble will not contain a Wemby story however prepare yourself. You are going to read many more accounts of le super extraterrestre jouerur de basketball. My apologies, I hope the translation was correct.

Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Meet me in St. Louis

The historian in me is the basis for the headline, I thought of movie of the past and begin conducting research. In 1944 a movie was released with the above title starring Judy Garland, Margaret O’Brien and a bunch of other names you never heard of. Well, Larry Laker what the heck is meant by the title? St. Louis University decided to make a change with the head men’s basketball coach, they hired Josh Schertz formerly of Indiana State. His Sycamore team should have earned an NCAA berth but that’s another story.

In any event one of the keys to basketball success by Indiana State was a roster member by the name of Robbie Avila, he was nicknamed Cream Abdul Jabbar, Steph Blurry (eye glasses) and a host of other names. St. Louis you should begin preparations for change, in addition to a new coach (Schertz), new offense and a bunch of other stuff you have the addition of the 6 foot 10 Avila. The city has a number of attractions The Arch, the world class St. Louis Zoo are just a few of the attractions in the city and metro. Could we possibly include Chaifetz Arena in the list of due to the soon to be arrival of Avila along with his coach.

Not if…but when it occurs

It’s certainly no secret the NBA will expand soon adding two teams. The only unknown at this stage is when we are aware of the locations, Seattle and Las Vegas. In Seattle, the new Sonics will play in Climate Pledge Arena the completely refurbished Key Arena home to the old Sonics. In Las Vegas there is a pending plan for a new arena, however T-Mobile Arena seats 20,000 for basketball and just opened its doors in 2016.

In Seattle, the owners of the team is likely to be the Oak View Group, which consists of Tim Leiweke, David Bonderman and Samantha Holloway. Former professional baseball player Ken Griffey Jr. along with Jamal Crawford and Gary Payton former NBA players have indicated a desire to be part of an owners association. Identifying Las Vegas owners is a little more difficult at this point. LeBron James also indicates ownership is a goal of his, probably by the time this expansion effort is in effect he will likely be retired. Naturally adding new teams will require a realignment for the existing NBA teams. Seattle and Las Vegas is a slam dunk.

Both expansion locates are Pacific Time Zone teams and they really belong in the Western Conference. As for balance Memphis is moved into the Eastern Conference, I’d flip a coin to determine if its Minnesota or Oklahoma City that also head east. Relocation of teams is strictly speculation on my part. There you have the NBA in the year 20??, the Eastern and Western Conferences contain an equal number of teams.

I guess it’s a sign of the times

Off the Dribble is personal, its written with the intent to provide information to you facts regarding basketball. I have strived over time to be as accurate as possible when discussing history doesn’t matter if it occurred 60 years ago or yesterday. Several might remember on Sunday reading an account regarding Will Robinson, feel free to check it out again if you care. In any event a social media sight wrote a similar story and that’s where the problem began. A fan wrote, “Robinson was given more credit than due him. At the time he was hired by Illinois State he released all the scholarship players on the roster except Doug Collins when he took over.” Can I prove his statement incorrect, no I cannot however there is a danger.

Someone can write or offer us almost anything without providing a shred of evidence to validate their account. I offer you the reader my opinion on stuff, as for the history that’s a different matter. My hope has always been to be as accurate as possible when researching the history of the game or those connected with it. Bottom line for me on this story, I don’t believe him. Check this out, Robinson has the Redbirds Athletics (Illinois State) Hall of Fame, 1980; Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, 1982; Michigan High School Coaches Hall of Fame; West Virginia State Hall of Fame; The Upper Ohio Valley Dapper Dan Hall of Fame; The Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame; John W. Bunn Award, James Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, 1992; Alvin N. Foon Award, Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, 1995. It’s quite possible the writer could be correct however what do you think? After reading those honors I believe we have a disconnect.

The basketball landscape 

What you thought was a seismic event was not as it seemed. John Calipari left Kentucky for Arkansas after Eric Musselman departed for USC. Kentucky hired Mark Pope BYU’s head coach, he’s got a Kentucky pedigree having been a player for the Wildcats. The coaching moves have seen a number of players leave (decommit) from Kentucky, whether they wind up at Arkansas remains unclear as this is written. I could make the same statement regarding Razorback basketball although I don’t believe any promised athletes are following Musselman out the door.

I’m sure some are looking at the movement in this manner…organized chaos. I happen to believe it’s just a sign of the times, the landscape in front of us is no longer smooth as it once was for the most part. There are numerous up and down instances occurring and even sharp left and right turns which have become part of the basketball landscape. Pope is the one coach I know little about, the other two is a different matter. Musselman and especially Calipari have a history of producing winning teams on their resume, USC and Arkansas will be okay. As for Kentucky I must adopt a wait and see approach to their future.

 

 

Basketball from a fan’s perspective

What did he say?

I’m disappointed, once again the Lakers were unable to beat the Nuggets in Game one of their playoff series. No requirement to do a step-by-step analysis of the game I prefer instead to ask Darvin Ham for an explanation. Allow this brief departure, NBA rules mandate coaches and players must be available to meet with the media post-game. That’s got to be difficult especially in the playoffs for the losing team, in addition a question or several questions from the media might elicit a strange or unusual response.

In the Saturday night post-game conference among expressions by Laker Coach Ham this particular statement stood out for me. “The Lakers have a couple more adjustments for Nikola Jokic but didn’t use them in Game 1.” Hey coach you informing us you intend to wait until the second game before implementing the adjustments you claim are in the playbook, better yet how do you contemplate this statement? Yes, I am trying to figure out the statement too, with 32 points 12 rebounds and 7 assists shouldn’t it be timelier to use in Game one over a Game two effort? Ham cannot make shots or defend them but a declaration such as this is totally confusing for me.

Talk about growth spurts

Anyone can play basketball, even me, although the emphasis has always been taller players. What might have occurred we suppose if these next few named had maintained their height at high school graduation? Dennis Rodman a.k.a. The Worm, in his graduation photo Rodman was 5 foot 9 inches. Of course he would later grow to 6 foot 7, it was junior college and then Southeastern Oklahoma State. The Lakers Anthony Davis stood 6 foot 3 his junior year of high school, by the time AD left Kentucky he was 6 foot 10.

Over the years we heard the story about Scottie Pippen, he was the equipment manager at the time he enrolled at Central Arkansas. Pippen was a 6-foot freshman, by the time he was drafted by the Bulls he was 6 foot 7. David Robinson was a 5-foot 9 senior in high school who grew to 6 foot 7 by the end of the year. Four years later graduating from Annapolis he was 7 foot 1 in height. Now you might understand, I grew 3 inches in height over the summer after the 6th grade. I was on the way to 6+ feet in height, unfortunately I didn’t make it. My growth spurt was nowhere near these guys, I can admit at this point in my life I didn’t make it to 6 feet.

Whoa, not so fast there

From the time prior to and up until the 2024 NBA draft we heard the same story. Victor Wembanyama needs to gain weight, This conversation occurred last summer up through the start of the NBA season and it included ALL. The legion of folks included former NBA players and a number of fans. That mindset is understandable after all Wemby stands 7 foot 4 in height and a slim 210 pounds. Playing the center position in the NBA “he would be eaten alive by Embiid, Jokic and others.”

Well guess what, although the weight concerns expressed were valid they didn’t prove as significant as first believed. Wemby was slotted in at the power forward position and eventually moved to the post. Could the weight issue have been exaggerated by the naysayers? I’m going to say perhaps…here I am in the middle of this and able to offer no expertise besides my gut feeling. I hope you’ve been able to see games or highlights of this youngster moving back and forth on the court…he’s speedy. What occurs with an additional 20-25 pounds, I wonder if it would impact his speed.

Based on this hypothesis (with no scientific backing mind you) I am unsure if gaining weight would amount to an aid for Wemby, what do you think? Would additional weight be a hinderance to Wemby’s continued development? Moving to another area, Yardbarker.com indicates the Defensive Player of the Year will be a tight race with 5 players in contention. The criteria for the award was listed line by line with points awarded based on that particular players position. Guess what, according to Yardbarker Wemby wins DPOY in a tight race 34 points to 34 for Rudy Gobert.

Bits n Pieces

First the background, Sixer post man Joel Embiid was born in Cameroon on the African continent. In colonial times the nation was split between British and French interest. Although Embiid’s never traveled to France one of the languages he speaks fluently is French. The Olympics is upon on us and it was believed Embiid would play for France, two years ago Embiid became an American citizen. With citizenship papers it was guessed Embiid would play for Team USA however another issue was raised. A letter reportedly written by him addressed to President Emmanuel Macron claims Embiid pledged to play for France in the 2024 Olympics. At least one French player is protesting the change and claims Embiid should be banned from ever entering France.

This account is from the wit and wisdom of the late Al McGuire, he was the longtime basketball coach at Marquette. “It’s so ridiculous to see a golfer with a one-foot putt and everybody say, ‘shhh,’ and not moving a muscle. Then we allow a nineteen-year-old kid to face a game-deciding free throw with seventeen thousand people yelling.” I must agree with the coach it certainly doesn’t make a great deal of sense however that’s sport for you

It's that time of the year, the college basketball season has closed with UConn repeating as NCAA men's champs. Dawn Staley South Carolina coach was able to lead the women's team to the NCAA championship. From this point up to August news regarding college basketball slows to a crawl. Based on this fact Words eye View begin publishing on a Monday through Friday basis, there will be no weekend edition. As this is written there in no planned start date however you certainly will be provided advanced notice. Allow me to take the opportunity thank you once again for being a loyal reader. 

  

Basketball from a fan’s perspective

I ain’t no model T-101

For some of you the headline might be confusing for others it’s understandable. Cyberdyne Systems from the Terminator franchise produced the first model T-101 a.k.a. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The T-101 was perfect but I ain’t, my blog is re-read after publishing each morning. Unfortunately there are grammar errors made from time to time, there are fewer in spelling thanks to spell check. Those grammatical misapplied sentences drive me wild. I am offering an apology for them, with a single proofreader (me) its sometimes difficult to snag all of them. Of course if I were a T-101 you wouldn’t be reading this, oh well.

I’m not ashamed

Mark Mitchell proved to be an unknown to me, Mizzou indicated this Duke forward was in the transfer portal and was headed to Mizzou. I watched fewer Duke games this past season than ever in my memory, I sure don’t recall seeing Mitchell in action. In any event Marcus advised me “He went to high school here.” At that point I began a research project on Mitchell and soon became enlightened. Turns out Mitchell was a 2022 McDonalds All American and rated a 5-star prospect out of high school.  

Mitchell completed high school at Sunrise Christian Academy in metro Wichita. Despite all the warning lights flashing about I must admit I missed him. He appears to have a body built to play basketball in the rough and tumble SEC, 6 foot 9 and 232 pounds. As this account was being completed came word Jordan Turner 7-foot forward would be entering the transfer portal. I hate for Mizzou to lose any player from its roster however it was clear this move was probably going to occur. I would say the same for Turner as any other player good luck in your new endeavor.  

A name from the past you should know

His name is Will Robinson, most reading this are likely unfamiliar with this basketball pioneers name. Robinson passed in 2008 at the age of 96, he graduated from West Virginia State an HBCU institution in 1937. In 1943 he was hired as head basketball coach at Miller High School in Detroit, he was at Miller until 1959. From 1960-71 he coached Pershing HS also located in Detroit, in the fall of that year Robinson was hired as head coach at Illinois State University. He became the first black head coach at a Division I program in the nation, he would remain at the school coaching until 1975.

After his retirement from Illinois State he became a scout for the NBA Pistons in 1976. He was solely responsible for the Pistons drafting Joe Dumars and Dennis Rodman having recommended them from his scouting duties. During this period Robinson was offered the Pistons head coaching job but turned it down, the team then hired Chuck Daley. And get this, for a time he also served as a scout for the NFL Lions, it was his recommendation the team draft Charlie Sanders and Lem Barney both now enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame. His best player at Illinois State, Doug Collins, is in the College Basketball Hall of Fame. Collins played in the NBA for the Sixers and coached a number of NBA teams. Will Robinson a name from basketball’s past you should be familiar with.

The Porter’s

April has not been a good month for the Porter family. Michael Porter Jr. continues to play at a skillful pace for the Nuggets, as for his brother’s that’s a different condition. Both Jontay and Corbin have seen their hopes for a basketball career go up in smoke, the truth is they have been their own worst enemies. As you are aware Adam Silver handed down a lifetime ban to now former Raptor Jontay for gambling on games. Last Friday the youngest Porter brother Corbin was handed a 6-year prison sentence in a Denver court. In January 2023 Corbin was arrested for a drunk driving accident.

This accident caused the death of the opposing driver and serious injury to her passenger. The sad part both stories could have been prevented with a little forethought. It’s possible Jontay might be able to play in Europe, he’s got that much talent. The history indicates some lifetime bans have been lifted so its quite possible he could return to the NBA one day. Corbin was playing basketball at the University of Denver at the time of the accident. If Corbin held any aspirations of playing in the NBA one day they are likely over now. Arriving in the NBA as a 28-year-old rookie is highly unlikely. I’ve read accounts (not validated) NBA teams are reluctant to draft a 24-year-old, the NBA draft is weighted heavily in favor of younger players.

Who should we believe

The reason I asked the question is related to the media. You and I have read accounts of the NFL swamping the NBA with the Christmas Day and evening games. If they say it occurred I guess we must consider it a fact. This next portion I found quite interesting and it’s NBA television and attendance. This is the headline from a recent Clutchsports.com story, “League (NBA) sets historic record ahead of playoffs.” The story goes on to report that not only television viewership is up so is attendance.

This is where it becomes a question, who is responsible for reporting this stuff? The negative NBA news is usually followed by some guy claiming, “Nobody watches the NBA anymore” or this one, “I quit watching the NBA when Jordan retired.” The NBA is just like any other sport, you like it…follow it routinely or have no interest. If you don’t like NBA basketball that’s okay but I will leave you with this fact. I have 0 interest in the NHL, truth is as this is written I cannot name a single NHL player for you. I have no enticement to the sport but I ask the question, why should I trash a sport I have no connection with as a fan? I say it every time but hopefully follow through this time, quit paying attention to stories with no basis for proof.

Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Games are played on the floor…not on paper

The job is not complete, it will not be over until the close of the 2024-25 college basketball season. Despite the recently completed season from hell I remain optimistic. I return to 247Sports as my source, they listed Mizzou as having the 4th best recruiting class for 2024 in the nation. All 5 commits are awarded 4 stars by 247Sports…but wait there is more. The transfer portal and its operation is a fairly new section to check however Mizzou is in good company there as well.

May 1 the portal will see it close however according to 247Sports they rank Mizzou with the number 13 best transfers in the nation. I began this exercise with one key fact, we cannot determine success until a team or individual competes on the basketball court. Despite the disastrous 2023-24 season the Mizzou coaching staff is continuing to compete for talent throughout the nation and world. Marcus and me have held discussions on Mizzou basketball, he’s proven to me he is definitely from Missouri, he’s adopted the state motto that says “I’m from Missouri, you’ve got to Show Me!” That’s okay, he’s got a right to see the product first before agreeing to the “new and improved version” of the Tigers.

I hope Marcus will be able to witness and appreciate the effort. I’m sure this fall and winter we’ll have plenty of discussions on Mizzou basketball.  NOTE: Prior to publication came late transfer portal news, also arriving in the fall will be 6-foot 9 232-pound forward Mark Mitchell from Duke. Mitchell’s from the Kansas City area attending Bishop Miege HS where he was named a McDonald’s All American and 5-star prospect.

What about me?

This is not an “I hate Caitlan Clark” account it’s simply to relay news and report information. We heard an announcement on Thursday that although Clark had an NIL in place she would be signing a new contract with Nike. This new contract would also include her signature shoe, no dollars are mentioned although the report indicates it’s an 8-figure number. This is certainly outstanding news for Clark but what about the “others.”

The others in this instance referenced include Kamilla Cordoso, Cameron Brink and Marquesha Davis to name just a few of the top 2024 WNBA draft picks. I don’t know if this next statement to be fact, have veteran WNBA players have shoe contracts in place? If not the question might be why not, I have no ability to act as agents for these women I’m not being paid. Each of these WNBA players should have an agent or representative working for them, this person has more responsibility toward their client over simply negotiating a WNBA contract.

DPOY

Until I conducted this research I had no idea how the NBA chooses Defensive Player of the Year. I have increased interest this season due to rookie Victor Wembanyama being very much in the mix. I believe this might be the first time in recent memory a first-year player has been in the running for the award. Should Wolves center Rudy Gobert be named the winner again I will applaud him and his effort season long.

As for the criteria…this from Wikipedia: “The winner is selected by a panel of 124 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada, each of whom casts a vote for first, second and third place selections. Each first-place vote is worth five points, second-place votes are worth three points, and a third-place vote is worth one. The player with the highest point total, regardless of the number of first-place votes, wins the award.” We can add this bit of information as judgement on a players impact:

 

Individual defense

Team Defense

Statistics

Impact on team success

Overall defensive ability  

There is a negative to Gobert being named DPOY by former NBA Big Man DeMarcus Cousins, he claims Gobert “doesn’t finish games.” The view of one player with no impact on the award is certainly not going to change the total number, it’s an opinion. “If you’re the best defender on the best defensive team, you should never be off the floor. There should never be a scenario where you’re not able to fit into the scheme. That doesn’t make sense. So how do we keep awarding this guy who can’t even stay of the floor in the playoffs? We seen it time and time again. This is mind-blowing to me.” This last portion comes from Basketball Network.com April 16.

Merchandise

Sports merchandise is certainly big business in this day no matter the sport. Around Kansas City I see plenty of Chiefs stuff, jackets, tee shirts, baseball caps and even shoes. Despite the fact we have no NBA team I see a significant amount of NBA gear. Displayed prominently in the Kansas City area is Lakers, Knicks and Bulls merch, on occasion I’ve seen Warriors and Heat stuff. Although there are no dollar figures attached you are about to glimpse the top selling merchandise according to NBA.com. This represents the majority of the 2023-24 season but not all of it, here goes:

 1.Lakers

 2.Celtics

 3.Warriors

 4.Bucks

 5.76ers

 6.Bulls

 7.Suns

 8.Knicks

 9.Spurs

10.Mavericks

Any surprises for you, there are at least three for me immediately. The fact the Spurs are in a Top 10 list, is that a result of the Wemby factor? The Knicks in 8th place, that’s shocking to me based on the population of New York City alone. Also surprising Bulls merchandise remains so much in demand after the MJ/Pippen years.

Basketball from a fan’s perspective

To be the best you’ve got to beat the best

I’m going to revisit the Lakers-Pelicans and ESPN's Mike Greenberg one more time. I pose the question what good would it be if the Lakers had lost to the Pelicans and wind up facing the Nuggets at a point? What I always hope for is a Laker win, this one I wanted more than the average because of the question Greenberg and others raised. We are full of conspiracy theories in this day and age, if the Lakers had lost the game it would have been all over the web.

“The Lakers were losers on purpose thus they avoid facing the Nuggets” the headline would have read. I hope we’ve heard the last of that type of talk, it’s not good for the team and it certainly is not good for the NBA. As for the future I will continue viewing and listening to Greenberg however going forward it will be with caution. The headline is a statement I heard a long time ago, an individual or team must beat the best in order to be the best. If that entails the Lakers facing the Nuggets sooner rather than later so be it, they would be forced at some point to eventually play them anyway. There is no guarantee someone else beats them for the Lakers. 

It’s not a talent issue

You might remember reading I once wrote on which player(s) would become the future face of the NBA, I profiled Steph Curry and LeBron James at 35+ as representative of the past. I attempted to point out they would move over to accept a new group. Recently I saw another site which listed a third player, they named the two I mentioned plus they added Kevin Durant. The slim power forward will be 36 before next season begins so the question might be why did I leave him off my list?

It’s not a talent issue for me because KD can do almost anything he desires on the basketball court, the question I hope to answer is the WHY. He was drafted by the Seattle Sonics, of course it was the last year the franchise was located there. Since then it’s been the Thunder, Warriors, Nets and the Suns his present team. I don’t dislike KD but maybe the problem for me is the number of zip codes he’s had over his NBA career. Perhaps he is more representative of the NBA players of today, nobody remains with one team for the duration of their time in the NBA. Don’t worry, I have no say-so with the Naismith Hall Committee KD will be enshrined one day as soon as he’s eligible.

Mizzou requires shooters (and rebounders)

After the horrific season Mizzou suffered hopefully help is on the way. The incoming freshman class is one of the best in the nation, however there is danger there. I’ve learned to not depend on youngsters adjusting from the high school game to Division I basketball. Mizzou suffered greatly this past season, I’m unsure which was worst, shooting the ball or rebounding. Hopefully with portal transfers and incoming freshmen both areas should see improved play in the fall and winter it’s hoped by Mizzou Nation. 

One of our local talking heads said "I'm surprised Missouri was able to attract players despite their past record." I guess it details for us how much this guy knows about college basketball. Gates and his coaching staff have been working the portal diligently in an effort to boost the team, Mizzou lost Sean East II the best true scorer to graduation. There was a degree of offensive help for East II, it wasn’t him alone. Coming on late in the season was Indiana transfer and Kansas City youngster Tamar Bates, these two represented 85-95% of the offense for the Tigers. Shooters, shooters and more shooters arrive in the fall for Mizzou beginning with wing player Jacob Crews UT-Martin and guards, Tony Perkins from Iowa and Marques Warrick from Northern Kentucky, all three were high volume scorers for their former schools. I am not technical enough to provide you the percentage of their shooting only their scoring average. 

Now that scoring is out of the way how about rebounding the basketball, it seems that issue should be resolved too. In the fall will be a returning 7-foot power forward along with a freshman who is 7-1 and 300-pounds plus an additional 7-1 power forward. That says to me even rebounding the ball should be improved over last season. I hope this is not too optimistic an April view, after all injuries played a key role in the underwhelming performance of last season’s portal group.

NBA draft

I always follow the NBA draft be it good or bad, in this instance it might be bad. It’s being reported that the 2024 draft will be a weak one. That’s not to say quality players will not emerge from this draft it’s just unlikely, despite that fact that is not always the case. Look him up if you don’t remember the name, Ben Wallace spent most of his NBA career as a member of the Pistons. Wallace from HBCU Virginia Union went undrafted in 1996, he’s now in the Naismith Hall of Fame. Avery Johnson’s had a second career as a college and NBA coach. He arrived in the NBA in 1988 from HBCU Southern University, playing the point he was a valued professional for several successful Spurs championship teams. You are probably saying that’s well and good, “How about a list of current NBA players who began play without the draft?”

Okay check out my Lakers first, there is Alex Caruso who arrived as a free agent in 2017. He would later sign a free agent contract with the Bulls in 2021 where he remains to date. We also have Austin Reaves who chose to pick his team which turned out to be the Lakers in 2021. After play first as a reserve he’s now become the starter at shooting guard. In the 2016 draft Fred VanVleet went undrafted but later signed a free agent contract with the Raptors, he played a significant role for the Raptors until last year when he became a member of the Rockets having signed a free agent contract with the team. The significant point, it doesn’t matter where you start the more critical issue is where you land. In the instant of those named and others omitted they offer us proof. Is there really such a thing as a weak draft, we just often have no idea who emerges sometimes until a few years down the road?